Everyone has a story.
And everyone is invited to share their stories at this years Celebrate Earth Day festival on Saturday, April 26, at Memorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge.
"People can share their stories about the environment, nature, loving the earth and themselves! Everyone has a story and we want to hear yours! No story or moment is too small!," said event organizer Leanne Koehn with the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society.
Every year the annual celebration brings together multiple community organizations for the family-friendly, artistic, inclusive, and interactive event that celebrates nature and the outdoors, community, and green innovation.
Welcoming ceremonies will kick off at 10:30 a.m. at the main stage in front of The ACT Arts Centre. Here the Katzie First Nation and Kwantlen First Nation will be acknowledged for being stewards of the local lands since time immemorial. Climate Champions will also be announced, in addition to the winners of the Earth Day Poetry and Photo Contests. You will also hear some impromptu answers to theme-related questions from community representatives.
This year the Family Freecycle is being organized by The Family Education and Support Centre. This is where donations of gently used books, toys, and clothing, are sorted into sizes and categories and then given away at the Earth Day event.
Donations can still be made from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, April 25, in front of the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre.
In honour of Celebrate Earth Day this year the Maple Ridge Museum and Community Archives has a new exhibit on display called 'Here of All Places: Stories of Maple Ridge'.
The interactive exhibit invites the public to stop by the museum, at 22520 116 Ave., Maple Ridge, to see the display and share their unique story on how they came to be a part of the history of the community – whether their family has been living in Maple Ridge from time immemorial, or if they only moved to the city a couple of months ago.
Here they can also learn about some of the organizations and businesses that make up the rich history of Maple Ridge.
To learn more about the display, which runs until June 29, the museum will have a booth in Memorial Peace Park at the Earth Day celebration.
The Haney Farmers Market will have a special marketplace open in the park before their farmers market season officially opens in May.
There will be more than 40 vendors at the Celebrate Earth Day event with fresh produce and locally sources hand-made items.
Members of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association will be on hand to answer all of your questions about the different types of electric vehicles.
The Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival will have a lineup of vendors to satisfy the hunger of festival goers including: tacos, street dogs, and mini doughnuts.
Volunteers with the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society's Repair Cafe will be on hand to fix broken household items. There will be people experienced in sewing, electrical, carpentry, jewellery, or bike repair needs.
Children can get their repair on too at the TINKERbell Station where they will be able to get some hands-on experience with tools and take items apart and put them back together again. Tinkerbell might even make an appearance.
Artist Zaira Ramirez will be inviting the public to help build an Earth Day Nature Mandala using painted rocks and greenery.
Win a refurbished bicycle at the Cycle Recycle free bike draw taking place at 1 p.m.. HUB Cycling group collects secondhand bikes, fixes them up, and gives them away in a free bike draw every year.
The Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Art Studio Tour will be hosting hands-on activities where the public can join local artists and play with clay, decorate a pottery heart, or put their own brush mark on a community canvas.
Entertainment on the main stage in front of The ACT will start at 10 a.m. with emcee and local musician Caden Knudson. Following the welcoming ceremonies the Maple Ridge Ukelele Circle will take to the stage at 11:30 a.m., Gabriel Regehr at noon, and at 1 p.m., hoop and jingle dancer Jane Wylie.
The Market Stage will be located in the heart of the Haney Farmers Market where local musician Pam Burns will be the emcee. Here you will find performances by Bob Cockroft at 10 a.m., Paulino Allera at 10:30 a.m., Jax the ocarina player at 11 a.m., Julian Burns at noon, and finally at 1 p.m. Anita and Lucy.
SeaStar Faces will be onsite face painting.
There will be a Library Storytime Tent and representatives with the Intergenerational Garden will have an interactive area where people can dig and learn how to grow vegetables from food scaps.
Performers from West Coast Circus Youth Performance Troupe, dance enthusiast Spandy Andy, characters like Tinkerbell and Anna from Out of the Rain Characters, and Tristan Underwood from KiteZone Entertainment will be part of the roving entertainment. There may even be a flash mob or two.
Celebrate Earth Day takes place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, in Memorial Peace Park, along 224 Street between Dewdney Trunk Road and Lougheed Highway.
For a map of the event site and more information go to: https://rmrecycling.org/community/celebrate-earth-day-maple-ridge
